Braven 2200m - Review 2022 - White Youch1962

Most of Braven's wireless speakers have 2 traits in mutual: affordability and a rugged pattern. So it's an intriguing difference to see a speaker from the company that isn't intended to take a beating in the great outdoors. And at $299.99, you wouldn't exactly describe the 2200m every bit a budget-friendly option. Visually, the speaker sports a refined design that looks like it could take exist lifted from the interior of a luxury car. Sonically, it delivers solid audio with respectable bass response and crisp highs. Only for $300, information technology doesn't quite hold its own confronting standouts like the Marshall Kilburn and Sony SRS-XB40.

Design

Measuring xi.v by five.3 by five.iii inches (HWD) and weighing in at v.nine pounds, the 2200m is available in grey or white. The forepart face consists of a tightly woven cloth speaker grille, which hides its assortment of dual total-range drivers and dual tweeters from view.

Across the top panel, there are rubber buttons for power, way (for pairing a 2d speaker, and switching betwixt wired and wireless sources), play/pause/pairing/call direction, and book/runway navigation. Combining the volume and track navigation buttons is a common move of late, but we're not huge fans—information technology's too piece of cake to misfire and accidentally skip a track when you lot meant to heighten the book. In that location are too three status LEDs on the top console: one for ability, one for Bluetooth condition, and one for mode.

Braven 2200m inline The back console houses a cutout handle grip to aid acquit the 2200m between rooms. In that location's as well a connection panel that houses the AC adapter connection point, a USB port for charging mobile devices using the 2200m'southward bombardment, a mini USB port for service, a reset pinhole push, a 3.5mm aux input, and a status LED for the battery. The handle area likewise acts as a port to release air though, enabling the drivers to push out more bass response.

You can pair a second speaker for a stereo sound, but owning 2 2220ms is going to cost you $600. It's hard for united states to fully go behind that concept when there are glorious-sounding stereo Bluetooth systems for less coin (like the Audioengine HD3). Nevertheless, if you're in dearest with the 2200m'southward audio signature, know that your can get a wider stereo image by pairing it with another.

The 2200m ships with a 3.5mm sound cable for the aux input, a power supply with four swappable outlet adapters for international/domestic apply, and a wall mount bracket for screws—though the 2200m's weight and safe bottom panel ensure it volition exercise just fine sitting on apartment surfaces.

The congenital-in mic's intelligibility is solid—the recordings we made using Vox Memos on an iPhone 6s were clear, with only a few audio artifacts, and nosotros were able to empathize every discussion.

Braven estimates the battery life to be roughly 10 hours, but your results volition vary based on your volume levels, and your mix of wired and wireless audio playback.

Operation

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the 2200m delivers powerful low frequency response, and at top volumes information technology doesn't distort, though its drivers sound similar they're being pushed shut to their limits. At more moderate volumes, the bass is still powerful and the speaker still delivers a potent output. In other words, eye volumes on this speaker are like almost-tiptop volumes on many speakers in the sub-$200 range. The extra coin buys you some extra volume.

Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives united states a better sense of the 2200m'due south audio signature. The drums on this track can sound comically boosted on bass-frontward systems, only here they sound relatively natural, with some pleasant richness without going overboard. Callahan'southward baritone vocals accept both a commanding low-mid presence and a crisp treble edge through the 2200m, and the guitars strums benefit from some solid high-mid presence. This is a balanced, clear audio signature that doesn't skimp on bass, just doesn't boost information technology dramatically, either.

On Jay-Z and Kanye Due west's "No Church building in the Wild," the kicking drum loop's assail has a strong high-mid presence, assuasive it to stay sharp and slice through the layers of the beat. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with a sense of depth, but nosotros hear more than of their raspy pinnacle notes than anything deep or ominous. The 2200m does a skillful job delivering the vocals on this runway conspicuously, though some listeners might perceive them to exist slightly more than sibilant than usual.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, receive a little added richness, which pushes the lower annals instrumentation forwards a tad. This is without a doubt still a crisp, bright mix through the 2200m, highlighting the presence of the brass, strings, and vocals. Purists will observe the higher frequencies perhaps a bit too sculpted, and bass fiends volition observe the lows lacking somewhat. The 2200m isn't a weak speaker, just information technology sounds fuller and more compelling at higher volume levels.

Conclusions

From a design standpoint, the Braven 2200m does simply fine, with useful onboard controls and a handsome, modernistic wait. Sonically, it's no slouch either. The issue comes with pricing. In that location are enough of strong competing wireless options in the $300 range (and even below) that outshine the 2200m, despite it being an overall solid speaker. The same Marshall Kilburn and Sony SRS-XB40, equally well equally the JBL Xtreme, all provide a little more audio excitement for the money. And if it's true stereo separation you're after, the Audioengine HD 3 is a compelling alternative.